WANDERING STOCK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 245, 15 September 1932, Page 6

WANDERING STOCK.

COMPLAINT TO HIGHWAYS BOARD.

COUNTY COUNCIL EXPLANATION

“I take very strong exception to ratepayers writing to the Main Highways Board complaining of the action of the council in regard to wandering stock on the county highways,” declared the chairman, Cr. Campbell, at yesterday's meeting of the Oroua County Council, when a letter from the Main Highways Board was read, stating that the board had received a further complaint from a ratepayer regarding wandering stock on the Coiyton-Taonui main highway. The letter went on to state that although the council had been approached on several occasions about the matter, the nuisance was still continuing and, further, that statements had been received that a herd of 50 cows had been turned out every night for the past 12 months and nothing had been done. The board intimated that it was inquiring as to whether the group traffic inspector had taken any notion in connection with the above matter as the board regarded wandering stock as a serious menace to traffic, particularly during the hours of darkness.

"The true facts of this case are that one person owning cattle was prosecuted in April, May and August of this year, and also on another occasion,” stated the chairman, “when lines ranging from 32s to £2 in each case were inflicted.” These prosecutions showed that the council had made endeavours to stop the stock from being allowed on the roads, Cr Campbell went on. adding that on one occasion the person in question had written to the magistrate complaining tha.t the county ranger was persecuting the writer in regard to the cattle. Instancing a particular case in which steps had been taken to impound the cattle, the chairman said that one night he had met the county inspector on the road at 11 o’clock, and it was not till 4 a.m. that the cattle had been impounded. There was no doubt about the County Council and the group inspector being active in their duties to put a stop to stock wandering on the roads, the chairman added.

“I take strong exception to ratepayers writing to the Highways Board on these matters without having the true knowledge of the position,” Cr Campbell declared. “I will admit,” he added, “that the offenders are very hard people to cope with and I hope that the next time they are taken before the magistrate, the fine will be such as to deter them from grazing cattle on the highways.”